Marzano Week 2

Becoming a reflective teacher is something that we have been practicing this year. As a part of an agreement with the Missouri Board of Education, our district developed a new teacher evaluation process. It began with each teacher grading his or herself on several characteristics based on rubric. It was exactly what Marzano suggested. It is so incredibly important to do this and be honest about it. Like Dr. Phil says, “you can't change what you don't acknowledge”. From that scale, we chose two areas in which we wanted to improve. It was very similar to Marzano's except that we had to develop our own teacher and student evidence. Marzano's list was much more helpful. What I noticed between

On most of the scales, I scored a 2 or 3, which is okay with me. There are some areas that I could be better at monitoring the success of a strategy. I think that is where many of us fail. We utilize a new strategy because it is researched based so therefore it must be effective. However, everything doesn't work for everybody. I definitely need to remind myself to monitor the strategy while I am monitoring the student. There were also two areas that caught my interest, one in which I scored myself very high and the other very low. I gave myself a 4 (innovating) for “The teacher uses academic games nd inconsequential competition to maintain student engagement”. This is perhaps my favorite way to keep students “with me” during a lesson. We of course play Jeopardy and the millionaire games online, but I also incorporate “old school” games. We play musical chairs where you can stay in by answering a question. We shoot baskets in teams for review points. It is easy to tell that they are engaged, but I need to go a step farther. Based on the suggested student evidence for this scale, I will be sure to include some type of exit slip. Again, I need to monitor the strategy.

An area that I gave myself a one was in “Teacher provides a clearly stated learning goal accompanied by a scale or rubric that describes levels of performance relative to the learning goal”. I always begin the lesson with discussion surrounding the learning objective. I refer to it often during the unit but it is not posted. I have been in other rooms in which they are posted but have not done so myself. Again, I get in my own way with that. I don't have the space to do so, but it is important that students are reminded not just from me, but see what they are supposed to learn. This helps them take ownership too. This is also true in the use of rubrics. I use them, but the students only see them at assessment time. I should be more conscience in sharing those with them in the beginning along with the objective. This, too, gives them the opportunity to monitor their understanding.

Parker Palmer Reflection Week 2

I do not entirely agree with Palmer's opinion of the conventional classroom. Contrary to his description, students do make observations, are more active in their learning and community is important in the classroom. Of course, the text was written more than 20 years ago and the climate of today's conventional has changed. That is not to say that the type of classrooms he described no longer exist. I am positive that it does. But I think that today's conventional classroom includes more of the “truth” that Palmer wished for.

However, in response to the question, “Is there objectivism present in my classroom and in my teaching?” yes and no. When I consider math and science, I have to admit that I have a strong sense of objectivism that Palmer referred to. Palmer (1993) wrote, “The idea of objectivism is that the knower is a “blank slate receiving the unadulterated imprint of whatever facts are floating around out there” (p.35). The “blank slate” mentality is exactly what happens, especially in those content areas. I am not certain if that is so bad. Math is about facts and logic. Is there anything to be subjective about? Regarding science, while it is true that there is more lecturing in this area, but students also learn from observation. It is still the “reports on the reports of other explores” but it goes beyond the just listening to those reports. Science includes confirming, observing and thinking about the ideas of others.

I did not have any teachers like Abba Felix. I went to school during a time when teaching was all lecture and no discussion. We sat in rows, never did any group work and learning was all about the fittest. I remember in one class where we sat in rows according to our grades. Thinking about it now, I cannot imagine what the person who was in the last seat felt like. My early education was exactly like the conventional classroom that Palmer referred to. When I was in third grade, we had to memorize this poem. I have no idea why but we could not go to recess until we did. That was more than 30 years ago and I can still recite that damn poem, “Little lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee?”But it was also a time when school lunches were delicious with big fluffy rolls with a pat of butter, no single child that I can remember with a peanut allergy, diabetes or with Celiac disease. So my mom could bake cupcakes for the class. But anyway, I digress. I am not upset about it, because I did learn a thing or two. I know that was way things were done then, it was the best practices at the time. We've come a long way since then.

Regarding things that get in the way of my passion, I could go on and on. Most of the things are out of my control and I am trying to focus less on those things (time, curricular restraints, administrative duties) and more on those in which I have some control. Which leads me to the biggest obstacle which is myself. Specifically, it is the conversations that I have with myself that get in the way. Those conversations surrounding how there is not enough time to teach or I wish we had more computer time or simply wishing I had more instead of concentrating on what I do have to work with. From those talks, I find myself less passionate about reading and writing which is what drove me into teaching. It becomes a chore as opposed to a pleasure. Hurumph!

Response to Clayton's 12 qualities 01/24/2015

Clayton,

I found your analysis of the qualities to be very interesting.  Many times, I found myself noddin in agreement based on your understanding.  Thank you for that.  For example when you said that you "derive my energery from myself and often feel overwhelmed", I certainly understand.  I think sometimes we are so passionate that it is hard to understand why students aren't.  I am learning to think like a student who doesn't feel the same way about a subject as I do to help me plan.  It's a process, but I am getting better at it. 

One area that I disagreed with you was when you gave yourself a "4" for love of kids.  In reading your thoughts, it is clear that you have an extreme love of kids.  Will you share a bit more about not understanding their current self?  What do you mean by that?

I absolutely agree with you about how our own personal beliefs sometimes influence us more than our training.  My class had French pen pals last year.  In France, you only have one year of formal training to become certified to teach.  She was amazed that I had gone to school for so long.  A strong set of personal beliefs can be more effective in the classroom than anything else.  As well as some life experience.  I think that is what has helped me in the long run.  I spent 20 years in the business world before I decided to teach.  What a blessing....

I had a difficult time deciding what could be added because it all sounded like advice I wish someone would have told me.  I am not sure if there is a difference.

The 12 Qualities Great Teachers Share

The article “The 12 Qualities that Good Teachers Share” was very thought provoking. It seems as with most things in education, there is no one correct answer. Everyone has their own idea of what makes a good teacher and they differ from person to person. However, these 12 qualities are a good place to start. Using the rubric, this is how I graded myself and my overall thoughts:

1- Excelling, have strategies in place to maintain this level

2- Good, developing strategies

3- Fair, about half the time

4- Need support

Passion for teaching	1	I think that this is the most important quality that a teacher should have. It amazed me how many people
Love kids	1	How can one be a teacher if one does not love kids? It's impossible.
Love of their subject	2	I do not necessarily agree with this quality. I do not believe that you have to love your subject in order to be good at teaching it. I would take this one from the list.
Understanding the role of school in a child's life	2	School is much more than book learning. There is far more for students to learn that will take them much further in life such as problem solving and communicating effectively.
A work ethic that doesn't quit	3	This is becoming a struggle for me because I do not have the “balance” that Lehman referred to. I see this more that I need to learn how to quit.
Organization	4	I really need to work on this. I am always looking for this or that. However, I don't believe that this adds to or diminishes the quality of a teacher.
Understanding that a good teacher is a constant struggle to always improve A willingness to change A willingness to reflect	1	I do not believe that a willingness to change and reflect are stand alone qualities. Instead, they are a part of the struggle to improve which is the over arching quality. Only through reflecting on what did and did not go well and changing those things that need changing can a teacher improve. Reflection should lead to change which leads to becoming a good teacher.
Enough ego to survive the hard days	2	Teaching is hard. There are days when all I can do is SMH. I have to remind myself that I do know what I am doing even if it doesn't feel like it.
Enough humility to know that it is not about you	1	The best teachers I ever had were anxious to hear what I had to say. The classroom is not a stage for the teacher
A willingness to work collaboratively	3	I struggle here as well. I know it is important to work collaboratively but sometimes it is difficult to work with others who are not like minded.

When I think about what other qualities that I would add to this list would be that a good teacher knows how to pick and choose their battles wisely.  There will be conflict with students, parents, staff, colleagues and administration.  Some things work out better when you learn how to let it go. 

Educational Genealogy

I chose to use a flower to create my visual lineage.  I also chose to make this flower myself as opposed to using an image because I accept the fact that I am not perfect and neither is my educational genealogy.  The shape and color of the petals as well as the font represent those memories that have had more of an affect on me than others. 

This proved to be a challenge.  There were many more teachers and many more moments that I could have used.  As I was creating the document, other teachers began to filter in and I would stop to reflect on whether I should add him or her but then I could not decide who to take out.  However, as the course continues, I can certainly add more.

It appears that I focused almost exclusively on the relationships that I had with my teachers.  I quite frequently hear how relationships are important for students.  I wonder if this could be why that is what I focused on when I thought back over the years?  I also noticed that I could not clearly recall any influential moments from middle school.  Again, I began to wonder why that is?

Hello there

This is my 5th year teaching elementary.  Initially we were departmentalized and I only taught reading.  The next year I taught reading and writing.  Now we teach all subjects.  It was like I was a new teacher every year!  I'm glad that is over, but I am still learning how to be a better teacher every year.

I am working towards my master's degree and want to earn a reading specialists degree as well.  I do not know how I feel about doctorate.  It scares me when I think about it....

I have two children and an unruly rotty mix.  The three of them are constantly fighting-even the dog chases them around the house.  At any given moment chaos can and will break loose!

I am very much looking forward to this class.

LaVonna

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